Delivery wagon



W. EHRLIC H DELIVERY WAGON Aug. 21, 1934.

Filed July 29; 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l W. EHRLICH DELIVERY WAGON Aug. 21,1934.

Filed July 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I O O I O l O l V O l O Patentedug. 21, 1934 NTD STAT rarer .fri-SICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved delivery wagon, and has for one ofits principalobjects the provision of a delivery wagon, truck 01 thelike wherein a considerably increased amount of .5 commodities may becarried for delivery purposes and wherein the same may be handled withconsiderable more ease and expedition than has heretofore been possible.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide in adelivery truck or the Ilike for various commodities, particularlyrelatively small varticles which are delivered to the trade `or toretail-customers, means for arranging or grouping the articles in somedesired order either for handling or delivery purposes, and wherein allof the commodities are conveniently accessible to thedriver or operatorof the truck whenever desired.

Another and further important object of 'the invention resides in theprovision of a delivery wagon or truck for handling `relatively smallarticles o'f merchandise such as bakery goods, pies or the like, andwherein provision is made for ready access to' selected portions ofcommodity f" supporting 4racks lfor easy withdrawal :of certain kindso-f-art'icles.

A further important `object ofthe invention resides in the provision ofa modified form `of delivery truck wherein a rotatable rack suitable forthel selective positioning land handling of various kinds of commoditiesis mounted on the truck and wherein certa-in portions of the rack arereadily accessible for handling -or delivery purposes.

Another object of the invention is the lprovision Vvoi a deliveryvehicle vwhich Acan be quickly and `economically Yloaded for routedeliveries with a minimum expenditure oi time and labor both in theloading and delivering operations.

A still further object of the invention includes a modied form lofdevice wherein a removable rotatable rack is provided for 'storage landdelivery purposes which rack can .be lilled with various articles linthe ,store or plant and then placed fully loaded into the truck fordelivery purposes While at the same time another rack or racks is beingcharged or loaded for insertion into the :truck upon the return of samewith the nrst rack empty.

d lOther and iur-ther impor-tant objects of 4theinvention will beapparent from thefdisclosures in the Iaccompanying drawings randfollowing specific'ation.

'55 vThe inventiomdna ,preferred 'form, .is illustrated in the drawingsand hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Y

Figure l is a top plan view of .a delivery `truck embodying the improvedconstruction of this invention, portions being broken .away to show theinterior.

`Figure 2 is an open reary view of a delivery truck constructed inaccordance with the principles of this invention.

Fig-ure 3 is a ydetail View fof a portion of the locking means for therotatable rack, this locking means being also illustrated in Figure-2.

Figure Ll is a detail view ci .an automatic release means for the lock,this being voperated in 79 :conjunction another `Idoor to the storagecompartment.

"Figure `5 is a rear view .of a ,delivery` truck, showing a modiedrormof `the invention.

Figure '6 is a top plan View oi the rotatable rack 75 shown in .Figure5.

Figure 'l is a detail View showing the improved means for removablyretaining the rotatable rack of Figures `5 and 6 in the delivery truck.Figure 8 is a top plan view of the rear portion of the truck.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the body portion of `adelivery truck-having a drfivers seat .l2 and having mountedon its vrearend a cylindrical body .14 provided with the usual fenders andsupporting `wheels 18,.

The cylindrical body l4-may .be of any desired or convenient height andis preferably sur-- mounted by a domed top or the like .2() andisfprovided with doors 22 at the rear end thereof., the doors :beingAsupported .in position `by means `of hinges 24.

Rotatab'ly mounted in the center of the cylindrical :casing le isash'aft 26 preferably supported 95 -by suitable ball bearings or thelike 28 `at .the top and bottom thereof, and yon this shaft 'is mountedaplurality of supporting racks or platforms 30.

, 'These .supporting racks :or platformsare circuf lar in shape to`correspond to the Ainterior dimensions iof the cylindrical body ,la andare mounted von 'suitable brace :mem-bers orfbrackets 3 2.vThesebrackets maybe adjustably nedon theA shaft 26 whereby the distancebetween the shelves 30 v4can be varied as .desiredvo-r convenient.

'The shelves 30 are provided for ftherstorage thereupon fof variouscommodities, :and eachshellf maybe divided finto .a plurality fof'compartments by means of :extensionsfof .the bracketsor braces 32 orthe shelves may simply be left open for the placing thereon ofcommodities to be carried and delivered by means of the truck.

As an example, the truck is particularly welladapted for the delivery ofpies or bakery products wherein the operator or driver requiresconvenient access to the interior of the truck for the purpose ofobtaining therefrom pies of various flavors, these pies having beenpreviously arranged in suitably selected or labeled compartments wherebywithdrawal of any desired iiavcr or kind of pie is rendered quite easyand convenient. It will be evident, however, that any other kinds ofcommodities Imay be transferred and delivered by vehicles of this sortand that instead of shelves simply supporting brackets may be used withhooks thereon or other means of support can be employed, while at thesame time incor porating and retaining the rotatable feature.

When the truck has been loaded and the operator desires to removecertain of the articles therefrom, he may, at his option, open the reardoors 22 and turn the revolving rack into proper or Suitable positionfor ready access to those portions thereof whereon repose the desiredarticles.

In order to make operation still more easy, a sliding door is providedin the front portion of the compartment as shown at 34 in Figure 1,which door closes an opening directly behind the space adjacent thedrivers seat as indicated, the door when open sliding between panels ofthe cylindrical container 14 into a position directly behind the driversseat. lin this manner, ready access is provided to any selected one ofthe compartments of the rack whereby articles of merchandise can bewithdrawn by the operator without the necessity of going around to therear of the truck.

In order to prevent undesirable rotation of the rack and shelves whilethe truck is in operation, as might happen when the same is turningcorners or the like, a suitable locking means is provided on the shaft26, this comprising essentially a pair of juxtaposed plates 36 and 38,each having a series of peripheral teeth or jagged edges, one of theplates 36 being xed to the shaft and the other 38 being non-rotatablymounted with respect to the bed 40 of the truck.

The plate 38 is slidably mounted on the shaft 36 and provision is madefor raising the same into locking contact with the plate 36, thiscomprising preferably an operating rod or shaft 40 mounted in suitablebearings 42 and provided with an offset 44 which is connected to theunder-face of the plate 38, so that when the handle 46 of the crankshaft 40 is moved upwardly, a locking relationship is establishedbetween the plate 38 and the plate 36 on account of the correspondingupward motion of the plate 38. This movement of the locking lever 40--46is automatically accomplished by the closing of the door 22, the same'being provided with a roller or the like 48 which is mounted on anextension 50 preferably composed of spring steel which roller, when thedoor 22, is closed rides under the end 46 of the locking lever andraises the same sufficiently to form a locking contact between theplates 36 and 38. In this manner the rack is positively locked againstundesirable circling Whenever the doors 22 are closed. l

In order to allow access to and rotation of the rack through the meansof the slidable door 34, an extension or pin 52 is provided on the door34 which pin contacts with Va latch element vor the like 54 forming anextension of a shaft 56 which is mounted in suitable bearings 58 in thefloor of the truck, and the end of which extends into operativerelationship with the roller 48.

The end 60 of the rod 58 normally occupies the position shown in fulllines in Figure 2, but when the door 34 is opened, this end 60 is movedby means of a pin 52 and extension 54 into the position shown in dottedlines in Figure 2, whereupon the roller 48 is pushed out from underactive contact `with `the trip orlocking lever 46, thereby allowing thesame and the connected plate 38 to drop, whereupon the rack is left freefor rotation about the shaft 26. The fact that the support 50 for theroller 48 is composed of spring steel makes this operation feasible andpossible.

In Figure 5 is illustrated a modification of the invention wherein thecentral shaft is dispensed with and a supporting rack or the like 62 isremovably positioned in a cylindrical body 64 of the delivery truck,this rack being of suitable dimensions to correspond with the chamber 64and mounted on swiveled rollers 66 which rollers are retained in properposition with respect to the cylindrical container by means of acircular rail or track 68. The rack shown in Figure 5 consistsessentially of uprights and crosspieces 70 on which cross-pieces aresupported a plurality of circular platforms or the like 72. Thesecircular platforms can be adjusted vertically with respect to thesupport 62 by means of openings or the like 74 formed in the supportsand into which are passed pins, rivets, bolts or the like '76 for thepurpose of retaining the shelves 72 in desired position with respect toeach other and on the vertical supports 62.V

This particular `rotatable rack is adapted to be withdrawn for loadingpurposes, this being accomplished by means ofswitches 78 and 80 whichform part of the circular track 68 and which may be opened manually orotherwise to allow of a ready withdrawal of the rack or support 76-72.

It will be noted that two of the rollers or supporting wheels 66 arealigned with the open switches '78 whenever it is desired to withdrawthe rack, this automatically aligning the other four rollers withsuitable openings in the rail 68 formed by desired positioning of theswitch members 80. The entire bottom 82 of the 'truck is preferablycomposed of a sheet of steel or sheet iron so that suitable and readyoperation of the rollers 66 thereover is accomplished. Obviously, othermeans may be employed for withdrawal of the rack from the body 64 andthe rollers 66 provide ready means of transportation of the rack overiioors or the like to any desired destination of the factory or shippingdepartment whence, after the same h-as been lowered, it can be readilyinserted into the truck for delivery purposes. While the truck is makingthese deliveries, a similar rack can be loaded for the `next trip,thereby expediting deliveries vand saving considerable time on the partof both the shipping department and the delivery clerks,

A rearwardly extending canopy 84 is preferably provided formed eitherintegral with or attached to the dome 20 which covers the cylindricalbody so that when the rear doors are opened, the operator or deliveryman will bein comparative shelter even on rainy days or the like.

It will be seen that herein is provided a distinct advance in the art ofdelivering commodities, particularly bakery goods such as pies,

-as in the pie'wagons heretofore Vused more than one-half of theavailable space was taken up by an aisle which ran through the length ofthe wagon, which aisle was considered necessary for the purpose ofproviding access of the operator to cabinets or storage shelves built inthe sides of the wagon, whereby pies of various avors and fillings couldbe selected.

In the present device, the necessity for the aisle is absolutelyeliminated and the corresponding space saved for storage purposeswhereby greatly increased capacity results, allowing the use of smallerand lighter trucks for delivery of the same number of pies or allowingof the handling o practically double the number of pies or othercommodities with the same size of truck. Almost .any article ofmerchandise which renders itself to delivery purposes in quantities canbe economically transported and handled in a vehicle of this size, whichshould prove itself quite advantageous for delivery purposes of allkinds.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous 'details ofconstruction varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limitingthe patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the priorart.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a delivery vehicle, a cylindrical body, a storage rack rotatablymounted in the body and swiveled supporting wheels for the rack,together with a circular track in the body for maintaining the swiveledwheels and the rack in desired position in the body, together withswitch means in the circular track for allowing of the withdrawal of therack from the body.

2. A delivery truck, including a removable rotatable storage rack, and aplurality of article receiving shelves on the rack, a circular track forthe rack and means for locking the rack against undesirable rotationwhile in the vehicle, said means comprising switches in the track.

WILLIAM EHRLICI-I.

